428 ANNUAL REPORT 



Mr. G. J. Kellogg's report as delegate to the Illinois meeting 

 showed that the apple question was but little nearer solved in 

 that state than in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He said: ''Half 

 of the orchards in Northern Illinois are on the wood pile and 

 the other half are leaning strongly that way." Nursery men 

 and tree peddlers are not helping the matter, although they are 

 profiting by the misfortunes of the planters. 



Mr. A. G. Tuttle was the delegate to the Iowa meeting. He 

 thought Iowa was on the right track and making rapid advances 

 in testing the adaptability of Eussian varieties. He said: "At 

 least twenty-six varieties of Russians will compare favorably 

 with the Duchess for hardiness and are as good in quality as an 

 equal number of American varieties." Numerous varieties were 

 being propagated at the agricultural experiment station at 

 Ames, and Prof. Budd had distributed trees to over six hundred 

 parties in Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota, to be tested and reported 

 upon. 



The evening session was opened with a paper on "Ornamental 

 Trees," by A. L. Hatch, of Ithaca. He is a vigorous writer and 

 a very earnest horticulturist. He cautioned against overplant- 

 ing. Too close i^lanting is a very general fault. Single speci- 

 mens with ample room for development give the best effect. 

 Harmony in form and color ought to be considered in all plant- 

 ing. Many planters crowd their grounds with such varieties as 

 a traveling agent recommends at exorbitant prices and overlook 

 the sugar maple, native white birch, American linden, hack- 

 berry and other beautiful natives that can frequently be had for 

 the digging. 



Mrs. Huntley followed with a paper on "Plants and Flowers 

 for the Home." She said: "Our homes are what we make 

 them. The young farmer can iDlant a few trees and shrubs 

 when he sows his first crop. He can devote a little time to the 

 garden from the very start. The woman can give a little time 

 to the growing of flowers from the first. Their culture tends to 

 elevate and purify the mind, and gives the dusty walks of life 

 many a charm that can not be found where they are wanting, and 

 they will afford relaxation from indoor labor." No other class 

 of workers have so. good an opportunity for ornamenting their 

 homes as the farmer. The little beginnings made at the start 

 will grow and expand into beautiful surroundings of a happy 

 home. It is a misfortune for children to be reared in a home 

 where there is no adornment. It is criminal in the parents to 



